PIED-BILLED GREBE. Podilymbus podiceps (Linnaeus)

Field characters.—Size and coloration about that of American Eared Grebe (which see), but neck thicker; bill stouter and usually with black bar across middle. Throat (in summer) with black patch; neck, chest, and sides dull brown. Seen singly on ponds and sluggish streams; sits low in water and when frightened sinks beneath surface with no splash and little rippling of water.

Occurrence.—In winter, visits lower course of Merced River, below Yosemite Valley, and sloughs in vicinity of Snelling.

Solitary individuals of the Pied-billed Grebe have been sighted on different occasions in December and January on slow-flowing portions of the Merced River. On the water of a deeply dredged section of the rock-walled channel near Goff, December 12, 1914, a good view of one was obtained from the passing train. Another was seen the last of November, 1915, on the river near Cascade Falls. We may surmise that small trout were the attraction at these places. The only part of the Yosemite region offering the surroundings ordinarily preferred by this grebe is the Merced River bottom below Merced Falls. There the secluded tule-bordered sloughs are likely to afford summer homes and appropriate nesting sites; birds were actually seen there by us only in winter.